1 Samuel 15 10

1 Samuel 15:10 kjv

Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,

1 Samuel 15:10 nkjv

Now the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying,

1 Samuel 15:10 niv

Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel:

1 Samuel 15:10 esv

The word of the LORD came to Samuel:

1 Samuel 15:10 nlt

Then the LORD said to Samuel,

1 Samuel 15 verses

1 Samuel 15 10 Meaning

1 Samuel 15:10 signifies a solemn and direct divine communication from the Lord (YHWH) to His prophet Samuel, revealing God's profound grief and regret concerning His decision to make Saul king over Israel. This verse critically sets the stage for the public pronouncement of Saul's rejection and the subsequent transition of the kingdom.

1 Samuel 15 10 Context

1 Samuel 15:10 is embedded within the narrative of King Saul's decisive disobedience against God's explicit command concerning the Amalekites. Earlier in the chapter, Samuel conveyed the Lord's absolute injunction for Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites—men, women, children, and livestock—due to their historical enmity against Israel (1 Sam 15:1-3). However, Saul failed to fully obey, sparing Agag the Amalekite king, and retaining the best of the livestock, claiming it was for sacrifice (1 Sam 15:7-9). This partial obedience, which was, in fact, an act of rebellion and self-will, immediately triggered divine notice. Verse 10 serves as God's swift, sovereign response to Saul's actions, signaling His imminent judgment and the critical juncture that would forever alter Saul's reign and Israel's monarchy.

1 Samuel 15 10 Word analysis

• Then: This word, represented by the Hebrew conjunction vayehí, denotes a sequential and consequential temporal link. It signals that what follows is a direct and immediate divine reaction or outcome stemming from the events described just before it, namely Saul's failure to fully obey God's command regarding the Amalekites. It emphasizes the immediacy of divine response to human action.

• the word: Hebrew: דָּבָר (davar). Far beyond mere speech or sound, davar in this context carries immense authority. It signifies an authoritative message, a divine decree, a command, or an active, powerful manifestation of God's will and purpose. It is a communication that demands attention and has transformative consequences, originating solely from God's perfect counsel.

• of the Lord: Hebrew: יְהוָה (YHWH), the tetragrammaton, is God's covenantal and personal name. Its use emphasizes that the message comes from the one, true, self-existent God of Israel, who is intimately involved in His creation and covenant relationship. It underlines the message's absolute divine origin, unchallengeable authority, and the inherent truth of the speaker, YHWH, the unchanging God.

• came: Hebrew: הָיָה (hayah). This verb typically means "to be," "to become," or "to come to pass." In this formulation, it actively conveys the idea of a direct, intentional, and undeniable manifestation or arrival of God's communication. It highlights God's initiative and the definitive, tangible nature of His word reaching Samuel.

• to Samuel: The recipient of this momentous revelation is Samuel, the venerated prophet and last judge of Israel. This designation specifies God's chosen messenger, highlighting Samuel's unique position as God's reliable intermediary to the people and the king. It underscores the weight of the message and Samuel's role as a prophetic steward of divine truths, even when they brought sorrow.

• saying: This participle serves as a direct introducer, signaling that what follows will be the precise, verbatim content of God's direct message. It guarantees the fidelity and authenticity of the subsequent divine declaration regarding Saul, removing any ambiguity about the source or nature of the coming revelation.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Then the word of the Lord came": This precise phrase is a ubiquitous and foundational prophetic formula throughout the Old Testament. Its repeated appearance signifies direct, authoritative, and incontestable divine revelation. It immediately establishes that the events about to unfold are not mere human machinations or interpretations, but God's direct intervention, expressing His sovereign will and judgment over Israel and its leadership. It marks a decisive and often grim turning point in the biblical narrative, where human actions are met with divine response.

1 Samuel 15 10 Bonus section

The phrase "the word of the Lord came" serves not only as a theological assertion of divine authorship but also as a literary device that heightens the dramatic tension in 1 Samuel. By setting Samuel's grief in the context of receiving such a definitive divine message, the narrative prepares the reader for the inevitable and tragic confrontation between the prophet and the disobedient king. This recurring formula in the Hebrew Bible underscores God's personal and active involvement in guiding His people, establishing leaders, and, when necessary, correcting them. It highlights the direct accountability of all authority, particularly kings, to the divine mandate and reveals the principle that true authority stems from unwavering obedience to God's precise instructions. The directness of the communication also implicitly stands in polemic opposition to contemporary pagan practices of divination or ambiguous omens, asserting the clarity and absolute truth of YHWH's voice.

1 Samuel 15 10 Commentary

1 Samuel 15:10 represents a critical pivot in Israel's early monarchy, initiating the direct judgment of God upon King Saul. The concise statement, "Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying," encapsulates the profound theological principle of divine engagement in human affairs. God, the sovereign Lord (YHWH), does not remain silent in the face of disobedience, especially from His appointed leaders. This revelation to Samuel is not a query but a firm decree, underscoring God's ultimate authority over kingship and His intolerance for partial obedience or rebellion dressed in religiosity. The sorrow expressed by God in the subsequent verse (v. 11), indicating regret for making Saul king, should be understood as righteous grief over Saul's failure to adhere to the divine covenant and command, rather than an indication of a change in God's immutable nature or eternal plan. This communication prepares Samuel for his difficult, divinely appointed task of delivering the judgment, further highlighting the demanding role of a true prophet who must deliver God's words regardless of their unpopularity or pain. The entire interaction sets the stage for God to ultimately reject Saul and establish a new royal line.